My 2004

Diamond visions

December 29, 2004|By Phil Rogers. While covering baseball in 2004, Phil Rogers saw a long-suffering team finally win the World Series.

My favorite story

John Kazanas, a Phoenix-based scout for the White Sox, lost his wife to cancer in 2003 and now he carries on as the father of four children and finder of talent. He also found time to mentor a high-school pitcher dealing with cancer (Bryan Wagner, whom the Sox drafted in the 50th round) and help run the Greek baseball team in the Athens Games. "In everyone's life, there are going to be times you have to make adjustments," Kazanas says. "You just find a way to make it work."

Play of the year

In Game 6 of the ALCS, home plate umpire Joe West made one of the greatest calls ever to help Boston avoid another tragic ending. With the Red Sox leading 4-2 in the eighth inning, Alex Rodriguez slapped the ball out of pitcher Bronson Arroyo's glove on a tag play near first base. Derek Jeter scored from first and Rodriguez advanced to second as the ball bounced down the right-field line, triggering Bill Buckner flashbacks across New England. While replays showed Rodriguez using his left hand to slap Arroyo's glove illegally, it wasn't clear at full speed. Crew chief Randy Marsh, who was working first base, appealed to West because he was screened out of the play. West called Rodriguez out for interference, killing a potential story-changing rally and maintaining umpires' autonomy to work without replays. General managers later voted against forming a committee to study the use of instant replay.

Funniest quote I got

"He wrote me a three-page letter that was very moving. He told me he loved me, but in a macho way."--Dennis Eckersley on his former manager Tony La Russa's reaction to his being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

I covered a lot of games this year, but I wish I had seen

Most people covering the end of the seven-game NLCS, as I was, probably would say Games 6 and 7 of the ALCS but I'll pick the medal round of the Olympics. Canada had Cuba on the ropes until an eighth-inning rally in the semifinals, and Australia might have upset the Cubans in the final if an umpire hadn't blown a call that cost White Sox farmhand Thomas Brice a two-run double.

Most telling moment I saw off the field

With steroids once again the talk of spring training, I confirmed that Commissioner Bud Selig was strongly considering using his "best interest of baseball" powers to impose much stiffer drug testing. He backed away after getting cooperation from the union, which is expected soon to approve a policy very similar to the one Selig would have imposed.

Best game I covered

Cardinals 5, Astros 2, Game 7 of the NLCS. Roger Clemens was pitching with a chance to get his hometown team in the World Series for the first time. He probably would have, too, if not for Jim Edmonds laying out like Jerry Rice in center field to take a two-run double away from Brad Ausmus and keep St. Louis in the game early.

Favorite player to interview

You can't do better than Minnesota's Torii Hunter, whether it's a slow day in spring training or an emotional night at U.S. Cellular Field. He was front and center after crushing White Sox catcher Jamie Burke in the pivotal game on July 26. His spirit has carried the Twins a long way.

Best road trip

It's hard to believe someone can get paid to attend Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Worst road trip

Spring training runs at least one week too long and the final days are made especially painful when guys you are rooting for (like the White Sox's Kelly Dransfeldt and the Cubs' Scott McClain) inevitably get cut.

Second-guessing myself

For picking both Chicago teams to win their divisions.

To-do list

Check out new ballparks in Philadelphia and San Diego.

Story line on my beat for 2005

With the acquisition of Carl Pavano and perhaps Randy Johnson and Carlos Beltran, the Yankees could become one of the great teams of all time. But I'll bet Johnson's ERA climbs by one run if he returns to the AL while castoff Javier Vazquez regains his sharpness wherever he lands.